"Oh Maker! We made it out ALIVE!"

Elisa watched Anders nearly kiss the ground the moment they reached the surface. She couldn't blame the mage. It was a close call for everyone. Scanning the area, she saw the others slump on the ground from exhaustion. She dropped down as well, closing here eyes as she basked under what little sunlight was left. From the looks of it, it was already late afternoon. She couldn't sense anything now so it's safe to assume that they've killed every darkspawn in Kal'Hirol.

"We should make camp here," she heard the voice of her Second as he sat down beside her. Opening her eyes partially, she met his blue eyes staring down at her.

"Agreed…" She gave a small nod. "I doubt anyone here could manage to stand now, let alone travel to Soldier's Peak." She sat up and looked over to Sigrun who sat near where they had exited, staring at the rocks that crumbled and blocked the path. She approached the female dwarf who turned her head to the side when she heard her footsteps.

"We did it." Sigrun smiled to the Warden-Commander after letting a deep sigh. "If the rest of the Legion were alive, I know they would honor you in some way."

"Unnecessary but very much appreciated." Elisa then sat down beside the shorter woman. "So, what do you plan now that you've finished your mission?"

"Technically, I haven't finished my mission," Sigrun replied, making the other woman raise a brow. "I'm supposed to disappear into the bowels of the Deep Roads. You know, kill darkspawn… remain un-mourned and forgotten. It's kinda part of the vow we took."

"That's rather similar with Wardens." Elisa rubbed her as she mused. "Why don't you join our Order?"

Sigrun raised a brow. "Is that allowed? Being both a Grey Warden and a part of the Legion?"

Elisa shrugged. "Well, you still fight darkspawn and you could die while doing so. I see little difference, really." She watched the dwarf consider her words.

"Okay, I'll do it." Sigrun grinned. "You seem like an alright sort." They shook each others' hands. "Just a question though," she asked once she let go of her new Commander's hand, "does the sun really stay up there in the sky?"

Elisa blinked. Then she remembered Oghren when he saw the sky for the first time. Smiling reassuringly to the other woman, she replied, "Don't worry, it stays up there. And, no, you won't catch fire." With a light pat on the dwarf's shoulder, she stood up and went back to Loghain to inform him about their new recruit.

As the stars shone brightly in the night sky, everyone gathered near the campfire to keep themselves warm. Nathaniel was the one who made the stew for that night. Elisa offered to help but the archer and her Second vehemently refused to let her even near the ingredients.

After dinner, everyone went off to do their own business. Anders went off to find a tree so he could answer the call of nature. Nathaniel and Sigrun left the camp to look for wood for their campfire, while Oghren sat near the fire before he took out some few bottles of alcohol he had stashed in his pack. It was mystery really to everyone how the liquor stayed intact even after all the fighting and running around earlier; but, then again, this is Oghren they're talking about. He took care of his ale like a mother to a newborn babe.

Loghain noticed one of the flasks the drunken dwarf held was silver with a dwarven rune inscribed on the side. "You know," he suddenly spoke as Elisa, who sat beside him, turned her head to look at him, "Maric had a similar flask like that, even the rune."

She followed his gaze and realized that he was talking about the flask Oghren held. It was a gift from Bhelen after the Blight – one of the many tokens of thanks for her support in claiming the throne. She didn't really find any use for it so she gave it Oghren instead – filled with West Hill Brandy, of course. "From King Endrin, I take it?"

He nodded. "He took it with him when he ran off to the Deep Roads with the Orlesian Wardens. He mentioned once that he had them undergo a tradition his mother started during the rebellion."

"Oh? What tradition?" Anders, now sitting beside Elisa, leaned a bit closer and asked curiously.

Too focused on his Commander, Loghain was startled by another audience in their conversation. This caused him to become reluctant to share anything further. Yet his Commander would have none of it. "Oh, come now, Loghain. Don't leave us hanging." She and the mage stared at him like children listening to bedtime stories.

Finally, he gave in and continued, "Maric said that on the eve of a battle, Queen Moira and her generals would pass around some dwarven ale to see which one of them could drink the most."

"Just so you know, that's not really ale," Sigrun pointed out as both she and Nathaniel, who had returned from gathering wood for the fire, stood behind the three sitting Wardens.

"Father once told me that King Maric continued that tradition when he led the rebellion. Is that true?" Nathaniel asked before his shoulders tensed as he side-glanced towards Elisa. Whether the mention of his father brought terrible memories to her, she did not show it and acted as though she did not hear anything.

Loghain let out a deep sigh. Telling stories of the rebellion to this lot just made him feel older. "It is, and yes, I know it isn't ale, unless someone makes it out of fungus."

Elisa raised a brow. "But you still drank it?"

"On the Prince's orders." Loghain attempted to scowl as he remembered the taste but couldn't manage to do it properly at the memory of Maric.

Anders gave a mischievous grin. "What if it's 'on the Commander's orders'?"

Now, that one made Loghain scowl properly. He eyed the woman beside him whose expression remained unreadable. Scoffing, he replied, "I would do no such thing. Such orders are trivial."

"Isn't that insubordination?" Sigrun added as a mischievous grin similar to the mage's formed on her lips.

Loghain's frown deepened. There was no way he was drinking that disgusting liquor! "Even if I consider following such idiotic order, we do not have any in our pack, and I doubt that dwarf over there would share." They glanced towards Oghren who overheard a part of their conversations and moved his pack behind him.

"Just you try taking any of 'em from me!" Oghren growled.

"Oh, come on! Just one bottle, Oghren!" Anders insisted, but the drunk still wouldn't give in.

"Ya' ain't touchin' any!"

The dwarf's possessiveness to his beloved alcohol made Loghain relax a bit though he did not show it to the rest of the party. It did not stop the mage and the legionnaire from trying to persuade the drunken warrior, however.

After a minute or so, their Commander suddenly spoke, "Give them just one bottle of ale, Oghren. I'll give you a crate of Antivan Brandy once we get back to the Keep."

"That's considered bribery, you know," Nathaniel, who had sat next to Loghain, commented as he paused from carving arrows with his belt knife. Their recent battle left his quiver only a handful of ammunitions.

Elisa snorted. "It's called 'just compensation'." Her gaze flickered towards her Second who opened his mouth to protest before she interrupted him. "Anyway, Loghain's not the only one who'll drink it." The corners of her lips twitched up as what she meant finally dawned on everyone.

Sigrun merely shrugged and grinned. "No problem with me."

"Just make sure you keep yer promise, Commander," Oghren said as he handed Elisa a newly opened flask of dwarven ale.

"All of us would drink that swill?" Anders' lips thinned as he stared at the flask. However, after a few seconds of pondering, curiosity seemed to out-weigh the ale's foul stench for the cat-loving Warden. He shrugged. "Why not? Not like I haven't tasted something worse." Like darkspawn blood.

"I'll pass," Nathaniel muttered as he stood up so he could move as far away as possible.

"Don't be a spoilsport, Nathaniel," Elisa said as he passed by where she was sitting, "We just cleared out the broodmother;s hive. I think we ought to celebrate a little at least."

"Yes, let us celebrate our victory by drinking something close to poison," Loghain stated dryly.

She waved a hand dismissively. "Oh hush, you. At least you won't suffer alone."

"If you're so eager, Commander, then why don't you drink it first?" Nathaniel challenged, though he did not expect her to follow through.

The entire party, minus Oghren, watched with eyes wide at their Commander as she took a long swig. When she finally moved the flask away from her lips, she began to cough though it was accompanied by a light laugh. "Andraste's flaming knickers!"

Anders, Sigrun and Oghren joined in laughing as the latter lightly slapped his Commander's back. "Not bad, Commander!"

The former added while still chuckling, "I salute your bravery!"

She grinned slightly to the mage and the dwarf once her coughing subsided before turning her attention back to the standing archer with her hand holding up the flask. "Your turn."

Nathaniel grimaced as he remained staring at it, until Oghren and Anders mocked him by making clucking sounds. This led him to glare at the two. "Rather juvenile for two adults, don't you think?"

"Not if it's true." Anders smirked.

The archer's scowl deepened before he took the flask from his Commander's grasp. He regarded it dubiously for a moment then took a swig of the ale. His face suddenly twisted in pure disgust. "Ugh… That's just… How can dwarves drink that!?"

"Easy." Sigrun snatched the flask from Nathaniel. "Like this." She took a long drink, gulping several times while the others watched her in disbelief. Once she lowered the flask, she remained silent with a hand held up to signal the others to wait before she let out a loud unladylike belch. She then gave everyone a wide grin. "Hey, I'm castless. Last thing they teach us is manners."

"Ah, a woman after my own heart!" Oghren laughed as he took the flask from her before taking a long drink which was followed by another loud belch.

Sigrun's face wrinkled as her hand tried to fan the stench away. "Ugh… at least my breath doesn't smell that bad."

"That smell enhances the Oghren-experience." Oghren leaned closer, forcing the female dwarf to pinch her nose. "I'm like a cherry soaked in brandy. Plump... juicy... and full of intoxicating flavor!"

Elisa snatched the flask from the red-haired dwarf, distracting the latter long enough for Sigrun to move away while coughing. "Okay, I think you had enough of that." She handed the flask to Loghain, swinging it a bit in front of his eyes. "Your turn, Second."

Loghain's lips curled down as he watched flask swing from left to right. I shouldn't have mentioned that story if I knew it'll end up like this. Sighing deeply, he took it from her. "Fine, let's get this over with." Taking a deep breath, he tipped the flask's opening on his lips before drinking its contents. He shuddered as the liquor made its way down his throat. However, he was not going to give the others the satisfaction of seeing any further reaction despite the churning in his stomach. Using all of his will, he remained calm and stoic, until his stomach settled in. "Here." He shoved the flask back to Elisa. "Satisfied?"

"Pfft, no." Anders pouted. "That was boring."

Loghain rolled his eyes as he muttered sarcastically, "Well, forgive me if I failed to amuse you, Mage. Next time, I'll remember to make gurgling noises for your own entertainment."

"Why don't you entertain us instead Anders?" Elisa handed the flask to the mage.

Anders relented before taking it from his Commander's grasp. Out of caution, he sniffed its contents, making him flinch away from the foul smell. "Uh… I think it's empty…"

"Bah! Sod it! Just chug it down, you sissy-pants!" Oghren growled, close to shoving the ale down on the mage's throat himself.

"Okay! Okay! Sheesh…" Anders stared down at the flask once more. Taking a deep breath, he drank the dwarven ale before he began making retching noises, fighting the urge to vomit as the two dwarves laughed. Loghain and Nathaniel cracked a smile as they watched the mage. It felt like revenge somehow for the latter being the root of the trivial challenge.

Elisa laughed lightly as she rubbed Anders' back. "Alright, enough, enough. We had our fun," she told their group, "Now, get some rest. We'll be leaving early tomorrow." She watched the Wardens return to their bedrolls with little next to no protest; most likely due to the fact that their bodies were already aching for a good night's rest.

Loghain, however, remained seated near the fire, blue eyes watching the flames dance. "I'll take the first watch," he told the Warden-Commander when she approached him.

"No, you rest," Elisa insisted, "You're probably more exhausted than me."

He snorted. "I'm not so exhausted that I would be so delirious to the point of thinking that one of my companions is a darkspawn."

"Ah…" She paused for a moment, quickly picking up that he was referring to what had happened between them in the audience chamber. She thought that a bit of fun and alcohol would divert everyone's mind from what she had shown earlier. It seemed to have worked too, except on Loghain. The man always saw behind her thick layers of façade.

Her eyes darted from one Warden to another and saw that they were all in deep sleep already. She looked back at her Second who merely stared at her, as though her face held the answer. Sighing heavily, she scratched the back of her head. "I suppose you want answers…"

"Is that not obvious?"

She began to pace back and forth, her chin resting between her thumb and forefinger. "Would you believe me if I say I have no idea what happened?"

Loghain crossed his arms. "If you had no idea, you wouldn't be lying about it, would you?"

Maker, I hate it when he's right. Elisa's lips were pressed together. A hand then suddenly gripped on her arm, forcing her to stop moving. Her head whipped to the side and met her Second's intense gaze. Her eyes held his for a moment before they shifted to somewhere else. After several minutes of silence, she whispered after a deep sigh. "Everything will be explained once we reach Soldier's Peak."

His brows furrowed. "Why not now?"

She pulled her arm away from his loosening grip. "Because, it's better if I explain it with Avernus." She turned around and went to her bedroll, leaving the older man with more questions than answers.

"Uh… I'm going to ride… that?"

Elisa paused from placing her back on her horse as her attention turned to Sigrun. The look the latter gave was similar to Oghren when she told him for the first time that they were riding a horse. "It's like riding a Bronto," she explained.

Sigrun still eyed at the horse uneasily before giving the Warden-Commander a small hesitant nod. As she finished packing and readied to help Sigrun up on her horse, she noticed their little dilemma. Nathaniel already had Anders sitting behind him on his horse while there wasn't enough space on Loghain's what with his massive armor and the camping gear occupying the space. Maybe some space enough for Sigrun if their camping gear wasn't placed there. That would be a good idea too, considering Oghren was the last person the Legionnaire would want to ride with. "Loghain, a moment," she called out to her Second.

Loghain, already on his horse, rode it to where she stood. "Yes?"

"Sigrun will ride with you," she said as she began transferring the camping gear from his horse to hers.

This caused the other Warden to raise a brow in confusion until he saw the red-haired dwarf approaching. "There wouldn't be enough space for you two if you put those there," he pointed out but she ignored his comment.

She finished transferring the camping gear to her horse when Nathaniel rode his horse towards them. "We're ready, Commander." She nodded to the archer as she helped Oghren up on her horse before she began walking, her hand on the rein as it guided the horse forward.

This startled both dark-haired humans for instinct dictated them not to let a lady walk while men ride their horses. They quickly got off their mounts, without realizing the other did the same, as they offered simultaneously, "Just use my horse, Commander." Blue eyes glanced towards the other curiously and met grey eyes doing the same.

However, their Commander, without as much as stopping and turning around to look at them, simply raised a hand as it made a dismissive gesture. "Unnecessary."

The two mounted their horses once more, shrugging it off as they considered the other's action meant nothing than being polite. However, the companions riding with them saw something else as Anders grinned knowingly at Sigrun who returned it with a similar expression.

When Nathaniel rode ahead of Loghain, the female dwarf asked the man in front of her curiously. "So, are you… and her…?"

Loghain turned his head to the side with his brow arched. When he saw her point her fingers towards the Warden-Commander, he snorted. "Have you been listening to the mage? I will tell you now, that whatever stories he shares about the Commander and I, they are no doubt the result of lyrium withdrawal."

"Oh, he hasn't shared anything yet." Sigrun replied, taking a mental note to ask Anders some juicy gossip later. "Kinda' notice you two being close and all."

"We fought together during the Blight. I suppose that might have contributed to our relationship as comrade-in-arms," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "I respect her capability to lead troops and inspire loyalty amongst her companions. Beyond that, there's nothing else."

Sigrun stared at him, partly unconvinced by his statement. Her eyes then shifted towards Nathaniel who seemed to be talking to their Commander now while riding his horse beside the one she was pulling. From the archer's body language, it looked like he was still trying to convince his Commander to ride his horse instead. "What about him?" she asked curiously.

Loghain followed the Legionnaire's gaze. Nathaniel had then got off his mount and joined walking beside Elisa while pulling the rein of his horse. He remained silent for a moment, unconsciously scowling in disapproval at the scene. He tried to convince himself that it was because he still did not fully trust the Howe, that the latter might be trying to get into the Warden-Commander's good graces so as to strike when everyone least expected it. Yes, that must be what his gut is telling him – and his gut feel is rarely wrong. A light tap on his forearm by Sigrun's hand reminded him that he had not answered her question.

He shrugged indifferently. "I know nothing what those two have, only that they knew each other during their childhood years. And even if they are, I care little, so long as that boy does not distract the Warden-Commander from her duties." He sped up his horse, moving past between the two archers and went ahead of them.

Elisa raised a brow, pausing from chatting with Nathaniel as she stared at Loghain for a moment. Nathaniel gave a similar expression when she focused her gaze back to him. Shrugging, she replied, "Probably in a hurry to get to Soldier's Peak." Not like she wasn't either. She quickened her pace, moving ahead of Nathaniel who immediately followed suit.

End of Chapter 11